Christmas Blessings!

It's been a while since I last wrote in here. I've had a really busy end to the year...but am glad that I've ended the year well. I take on a new posting in 2010 which means I have to move. It's sad leaving friends behind but I know that new friendships will be formed in the new year!!! I look forward to the new challenges ahead of me.

To all my friends, wishing you a blessed Christmas break and a propsperous, healthy 2010!!!!

Boxing Day

We got side-tracked in class today from discussing the origins of calendars and what what they are mostly used for to talking about Boxing Day. Their responses just made my day......
My original question was: Why do we call the day after Christmas Boxing day and what happens on that day?
Responses:
I think that's Santa's birthday.
Is that the day you buy boxing gloves?
I think that's the day Santa crushes all his empty gift boxes!
I didn't know it was called Boxing Day!!!!!
I think that's the day Santa put's his feet up after giving out all the presents!!!

I had a good laugh!!

If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus tis now....

Praying the Ephesians prayer 2

For the last few days I have been praying the Ephesians prayer. I would insert my name into the prayer each time I say them. Here is the second one.

Ephesians 3:14 - 19

Father, I pray that out of Your glorious riches, may You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith.

I pray that as I am being rooted and established in love, I will have the power together with all the saints to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ.

And to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that I may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Amen.

Praying the Ephesians prayer 1

Ephesians 1: 17 - 23

Lord, may You give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know You better.

I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened in order that I may know:
-the HOPE to which You have called me
-the RICHES of Your glorious inheritance in the saints and
-the INCOMPARABLE GREAT POWER for us who believe

That power is like the working of Your mighty strength, which You exerted in Christ when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly realms. Far above all rule and authority, power and dominion and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

Father, as You give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, may I know and remember that You placed ALL things under Christ feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church-which is Your body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.

Amen.

Three Things In LIfe

This caught my attention this morning as I was going through my mail.

'Three Things in Life...
Three things in life that, once gone, never come back:
1.Time 2.Words 3.Opportunity

Three things in life that can destroy a person:
1. Anger 2.Pride 3.Unforgiveness

Three things in life that you should never lose:
1.Hope 2.Peace 3.Honesty

Three things in life that are most valuable:
1.Love 2.Family and Friends 3.Kindness

Three things in life that are never certain:
1.Fortune 2.Success 3.Dreams

Three things that make a person:
1.Commitment 2.Sincerity 3.Hard work

Three things that are truly constant:
1.Father 2.Son 3.Holy Spirit

I ask the Lord to bless you, as I pray for you today; to guide you and protect you, as you go along your way. God's love is always with you, God's promises are true. And when you give God all your cares, you know God will see you through.'
by Douglas Roman

Abiding Presence

I love the holidays because it gives me a chance to s-l-o-w down, apply the brakes on the usual 8 to 4 routine and catch up with friends and family and most importantly more time reading the Word. This morning I'm reminded about His abiding presence. Yes, His abiding presence.WOW! He is far closer than the clothes I have on. The song by Michael W Smith comes to mind...He is the air that I breathe.....

Dear Lord,
Draw me closer to You each day and help me feel the warmth of Your embrace. Whatever I do today, may I perform it with an awareness of Your presence. Amen

Back again!

Talk about a busy semester!! A colleague of mine resigned last week and before leaving he came into my room to say goodbye. He said 'I'm so glad I'm leaving because I won't have to listen to all the religion stuff that they promote around here anymore!' I didn't know what to think about that comment. ....I just felt sorry for him!

Giving

'If you seek to be understood, then dedicate your life to understanding others.
If you seek to be comforted, then dedicate yourself to giving comfort.
If you seek greater faith, then commit yourself to planting it in others.'

I had to ponder for a moment this morning when I read this. Isn't it so true that when we take the focus off ourselves and what we're going through to reach out to others, we're comforted. It helps us to forget about our own problems for that one minute!

This reminded me of the news coverage about the bushfire victims rebuilding their lives. A particular story that caught my attention was about a man who had lost alot of his personal possessions and despite his own hardships he had thrown himself into helping his neighbours. The news reporters called him 'the good samaritan.' I guess that by giving the comfort he was seeking, he found a even greater measure of it.

Dear Father,
Help me to remember that it is more blessed to give than to receive.

BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

I received this email from a dear friend. Thank you Sera.

~~ Beauty of a Woman ~~

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,

The figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart,

The place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,

But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,

The passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman

With time, only grows..

It is well with my soul

His peace is perfect

Listen to the whisper

It is well

It is well

With my soul.

Prayers for the bushfire victims

Last Saturday was a totally new experience for me!!!! We hear about it in the media but to actually see it....my goodness!!! By 4 o'clock on Saturday...the atmosphere had turned dark orange(sort of) from the smoke and it was sooooooo hot....46 - 48 degrees(like being in an oven). We were on alert because the wind that fueled the fire was so strong and it could change direction any minute. Talk about the sun and moon turning red!!!!

I just packed up a few valuables and headed for my friend's place. People were out either on the streets or in their driveway just watching the fire and smoke in the distance.....At my friend's place, we hosed down her house-especially the roof!!! On the same day the temperature dropped from 48 degrees to 24 at night!!! Sleep was the last thing on our minds so we drove around the neighbourhood just checking out areas being affected.

Fast forward to today.....It's alot calmer now and the temperature is in the low 20's.

As I write this, my prayers and thoughts go out to the many Victorians who have lost everything during the devastating bushfire and the courageous firefighters who are still out battling the fires. Just listening to stories of survival and desperation to find missing loved ones brings tears to anyone's eyes.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Just want to say 'A Happy New Year' to all my wonderful friends. It's abit late hey!!! Well, my computer has decided to take a break.......I'm emailing from a friend's house. Am hoping that it will be fixed before I start work.